Wallace was born on August 6, 1887 in London. After completing his musical training, he went to the United States, where he initially worked primarily on the West Coast as a conductor of theater orchestras and as an organist accompanying silent films. At the same time, he also made a name as a songwriter, writing tunes such as the popular "Hindustan". With the advent of the talking film era, he worked increasingly for Hollywood film studios in the 1930s.
In 1936 he joined Disney Studios, and quickly became one of the most important composers in the studio for short animated films. Wallace provided the music for more than 100 of these shorts. One of his best known pieces is the song Der Fuehrer's Face from the 1942 Donald Duck propaganda cartoon. This parody of a Horst Wessel song was, mainly through the version by Spike Jones & His City Slickers, one of the biggest hits during the Second World War. Other shorts Wallace scored include Ben and Me (1953), about Benjamin Franklin, and the Oscar-winning Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom (1953), the first cartoon to use the new Cinemascope process. In 1949 Wallace composed the music and voiced Winkie in the Disney film The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad.
Walt Disney also had Wallace score full-length films for the studios. His first big success was Dumbo (1941), for which he, together with Frank Churchill, won his first and only Oscar in 1942. He went on to score Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and Lady and the Tramp. Characteristic of all these productions was the cooperation of several composers in the creation of the music. Wallace understood this and integrated leitmotiv-like elements from the individual songs into the film scores.
When the Disney studios began increasingly producing full-length films, Wallace also wrote scores for these. In Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959), Wallace wrote not only the score but also set the Lawrence Edward Watkin-penned popular songs, "Pretty Irish Girl" and "The Wishing Song". In Toby Tyler, or Ten Weeks with the Circus (1959), he appeared as an actor, playing the conductor of the circus band.
Starting with Seal Island (1948) Wallace also specialized in musical accompaniments for Disney documentaries, including nearly all the films for the "People and Places" series and some of the "True Life Adventures". The music of White Wilderness (1958) was even nominated for an Oscar in 1959, a rare event for a documentary film.
Overall, Wallace contributed music to nearly 150 Walt Disney productions. He remained active in the studio in Los Angeles until shortly before his death at the age of 76.
Awards:
* 1942 - Oscar for Dumbo - together with Frank Churchill
Wallace also received four other Oscar nominations for the music to the film Victory Through Air Power (1943), Cinderella (1950), Alice in Wonderland (1951), and White Wilderness (1957).
Filmography (selection):
Most of the films were scored in collaboration with other composers.
* 1941 – Dumbo – Score
* 1942 – Der Fuehrer's Face – Score and title song
* 1943 – Victory Through Air Power – Score (participation)
* 1947 – Fun and Fancy Free – Score (participation)
* 1948 – Seal Island – Score
* 1949 – The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad – Score
* 1950 – Cinderella – Score (participation)
* 1951 – Alice in Wonderland – Score
* 1953 – Peter Pan – Score and some songs
* 1953 – Ben and Me – Score
* 1953 – Toot, Whistle, Plunk and Boom – Score
* 1954 – Siam – Score
* 1955 – Men Against the Arctic – Score
* 1955 – Lady and the Tramp – Score (participation)
* 1957 – Old Yeller – Score and song
* 1958 – White Wilderness – Score
* 1958 – Tonka – Score
* 1959 – Darby O’Gill and the Little People – Score and song
* 1960 – Jungle Cats – Score
* 1960 – Ten Who Dared – Score
* 1961 – Nikki, Wild Dog of the North – Score
* 1962 – Big Red – Score
* 1962 – The Legend of Lobo – Score
* 1963 – Savage Sam – Score
* 1963 – The Incredible Journey – Score
What a Dog/He's a Tramp
Oliver Wallace Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What a dog
He's a tramp, but they love him
Breaks a new heart every day
He's a tramp, they adore him
And I only hope he'll stay that way
He's a rounder, he's a cad
He's a tramp, but I love him
Yes, even I have got it pretty bad
You can never tell when he'll show up
He gives you plenty of trouble
I guess he's just a no-count pup
But I wish that he were double
He's a tramp, he's a rover
And there's nothing more to say
If he's a tramp, he's a good one
And I wish that I could travel his way
Wish that I could travel his way
Wish that I could travel his way
The song "What a Dog/He's a Tramp" by Oliver Wallace is from the Disney movie Lady and the Tramp. The song tells the story of a stray dog who is loved and adored by everyone he meets, but he is also seen as a scoundrel and a rounder. Despite his reputation, the singer confesses her love for him and wishes she could be like him.
The lyrics are playful and whimsical, but they also convey a deeper meaning. The dog represents a carefree spirit, someone who lives life on his own terms and doesn't conform to societal norms. The singer, on the other hand, is envious of this freedom and wishes she could live like the dog.
The song is a reminder that sometimes the things we think we want (like societal acceptance and conformity) are not truly fulfilling. It encourages the listener to embrace their inner tramp and seek out their own path in life.
Line by Line Meaning
What a dog
Remarkable canine
What a dog
Astonishing dog
He's a tramp, but they love him
He's a stray dog, but people still admire him
Breaks a new heart every day
He continually hurts people's feelings
He's a tramp, they adore him
Stray dog is loved by many
And I only hope he'll stay that way
I aspire that he remains the same stray dog
He's a tramp, he's a scoundrel
He's a vagabond and a miscreant
He's a rounder, he's a cad
He's a vagrant who behaves dishonorably
He's a tramp, but I love him
I have feelings for him, although he's a stray dog
Yes, even I have got it pretty bad
My feelings for him are intense
You can never tell when he'll show up
It's uncertain when he'll arrive
He gives you plenty of trouble
He causes many difficulties
I guess he's just a no-count pup
I assume he's a worthless dog
But I wish that he were double
I wish I could have two of him
He's a tramp, he's a rover
He's a stray dog who wanders around
And there's nothing more to say
No further explanation is needed
If he's a tramp, he's a good one
If he's a stray dog, then he's an excellent one
And I wish that I could travel his way
I hope I could live a life like him
Wish that I could travel his way
I aspire to live a life like him
Lyrics © Walt Disney Music Company
Written by: OLIVER WALLACE, PEGGY LEE, SONNY BURKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BeruBeruIce
You know a character is special when she's named after the person who voices her in both talking and singing version.
@Sweet_Dee
As a little kid, I ADORED Peg and this song. I understood the general message but I didn't know what some words like "rounder" and "cad" meant. I remember thinking she says "he's a cat," which to me, seemed like a pretty good diss coming from a dog, especially because of how cats are portrayed in the movie 😹
@rebeccamiller9558
I remember being about 5 and my mom saying that the tramp dates all the ladies but never marries them. Thats why they call him a cad.
@Narakmakmak83
me too hahaha
@ShazanFoxBox
Omigosh it wasn't just me!!
@valerieellison2483
I had always thought she said he was a "rat" which made Lady's reaction to that word make sense to me as a kid.
@ElvisLivesUpstairs
I'm 38 and I just realised it's cad not cat thanks to this comment 😂
@jaybonn5973
For that one time I barely remember hearing this song 15 years ago, the subtext flew entirely over my head.
@Broken_Everlark7
It's still definitely going over even adults heads 😂😂 I honestly didn't get it as a kid. But watching it again, I'm amazed they didn't get it censored
@goldilox369
Lol, IKR? 😂